Conservation status marine mammal stocks in NAMMCO
Faroes
Cetaceans
Hunting allowed:
- Long-finned pilot whale
- White-sided dolphin,
- White-beaked dolphin
- Bottlenose dolphin
- Harbour porpoise
Protected: All other cetacean species and all cetacean species around fish farms
Seals
Hunting allowed: None
Protected: Grey seals (the only resident species is de facto protected by a combination of regulations)
References:
Executive Order No 9 of 26 January 2017 on hunting Pilot Whales and other Small Whales
Executive Order No 65 of 14 May 2020 on prohibition to kill any marine mammal around fish farms
Greenland
Cetaceans
Hunting allowed:
- West: Bowhead whale (quota)
- West: Fin whale (quota)
- West: Humpback whale (quota)
- Both West and East: Minke whale (quota)
- Both West and East: Narwhal (quota)
- West: Beluga (quota)
- Killer whale
- Pilot whale
- Bottlenose whale
- White-sided dolphin
- White-beaked dolphin
- Harbour porpoise
Protected: All other species and/or areas
Seals
Hunting allowed:
- Both West and East: Walrus (quota)
- Hooded seal
- Harp seal
- Ringed seal
- Bearded seal
Protected: Grey seal, Harbour seal
For others seal species:
- lactating females and pup pairs
- pups with lanugo hair (‘white-coats’) – so in practice for harp, ringed, and bearded seals that are species with laguno hair
References:
Executive Order No 16 of 12 November 2010 on protection and hunting of seals
Executive Order No 3 of 27 January 2017 on beluga and narwhal
Executive Order No 9 of 6 December 2018 on large whales
Executive Order No 31 of 14 October 2022 on protection and hunting of walrus
Iceland
Cetaceans
Hunting allowed:
- Fin whale (quota)
- Minke whale(quota)
Protected: All other species
Seals
Hunting allowed: Permission can be requested for personal use for (the only two resident species):
- Grey seal
- Harbour seal
Protected: All – but see under allowed
References:
Regulation of whaling No 163 of 30 May 1973 with amendments
Regulation No 1100 of 11 December 2019 – general seal ban
Regulation 910/2022 on monitoring welfare of animals during whaling
Norway excl. Svalbard
Cetaceans
Hunting allowed: Minke whale (quota)
Protected: All other cetaceans species
Seals
Hunting allowed:
Pack ice hunt
- Harp seal (quota)
- Hooded seal (quota – since 2007 quota=0)
Coastal seals
- Grey seal (quota)
- Harbour seal (quota)
Permission can be granted during special time periods:
- Ringed seal
- Harp seal
Protected: Other seal species. All seals around fish farms
References:
The Ministry of Trade, Industry and Fisheries and the Directorate of Fisheries issue annual regulations relating to quotas, hunting period and areas for the hunting of minke whales, seals in the West Ice and East Ice, and coastal seals. For information on laws and regulation governing marine mammal hunts look here
Svalbard
Cetaceans
Hunting allowed: Minke whale (quota)
Protected: All other species
Seals
Hunting allowed:
Only permitted outside breeding season in the following periods:
- Bearded seal: 01/02-27/04 + 05/06-30/11
- Ringed seal 01/02-20/03 + 20/05 – 30/11
Protected: Walrus
All seals other than bearded and ringed seals are fully protected. During breeding season bearded and ringed seals are also protected.
References:
“Forskrift om høsting på Svalbard” https://lovdata.no/dokument/SF/forskrift/2002-06-24-712#KAPITTEL_2
